Folding carton and blank therefor



Filed Oct. 2l, 1965 Oct. 10, 1967 CL R. zElTTER FOLDING CARTQN AND BLANKTHEREFOR l 5 Shts-Sheet l I N VE NTOR.

Bypvmn, mrd, (SMZ/m I Oct-10, 1967 l c.. R. zEn'Tl-:R I 3,346,164

FOLDING CARTON AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed oct. 21, 1965 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

me 224m,

Oct. 10, 1967 l c. R. ZEITTER 3,346,164

LD G C TON AND Filed oct. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet :s

United States Patent O 3,346,164 y FOLDING CARTN AND BLANK THEREFQRCharles R. Zeitter, Grand Rapids, Mich., assigner to PackagingCorporation of America, Evanstonlll., a corporation of Delaware FiledOct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,557 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) ABSTRACT '0F THEvDISCLOSURE This invention relates to a folding carton and blanktherefor and more particularly to a carton wherein the product disposedtherein is readily observable without the carton being opened.

Various cartons of this general type have heretofore been proposed;however, because of certain design characteristics, they are of a costlyand complex construction, are unattractive in appearance, or areineffective in providing adequate protection for the accommodatedproduct.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a foldingcarton which is not beset with the aforenoted shortcomings of the priorart cartons.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a `folding cartonwhich may be formed from a blank of paperboard having printed indicia ononly one surfaceY thereof, whereby, when the carton is set up, only theprinted surface of the blank is exposed.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a foldingcarton'which is sturdy and compact and capable of accommodating avar-iety of products notwithstanding that the blank for said carton isformed of relatively thin gauge paperboard stock.

It is a still further object of thisinvention to provide a foldingcarton which is capable of being set up manually or by automaticequipment.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with" one embodiment of this invention a folding carton isprovided which comprises apertured front and back panels arranged inspaced registered relation. An aperture in one of the panels is inaligned position with respect to a corresponding aperture in the otherpanel. Outer side panels are provided which foldably interconnectcorresponding peripheral portions of the front and back panels. Closureflaps are foldably connected to opposite ends of the front, back, andside panels and cooperate to effect closing of the carton ends.Corresponding perimet-rical portions of the aligned apertures -areinterconnected by folding aps, which delimit the aligned apertures.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should bemade to the drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan View of one form of a blank Ifor the improvedcarton;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modiiied blank;

FIGS. 3-5 are perspective views of the blank of FIG. l shown in variousstages of setup;

ice

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the improved carton fully set up fromthe blank of FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 but showing an improved carton fully set upfrom the blank of FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. l a blank 10 of thin gauge paperboard printed ononly one surface thereof is shown which is adapted, when fully set up,to form the improved carton 11, shown in FIG. 6. The surface of blank 10shown in FIG. l is the unprinted surface; however, as will behereinafter discussed, only the printed surface of the blank will beexposed when the carton is set up as shown in FIG, 6.

Blank 1@ is provided with a plurality of foldlines and cuts which areadapted to cooperate with one another so as to form a back panel 13which is provided with an enlarged central opening 14. Connected byfoldline 15 to a perimetrical segment of opening 14 is an inner flap 16,the function of which will be described more fully hereinafter.

Connectedby a pair of spaced substantially parallel foldlines 17 and 18to opposite sides of back panel 13 are side panels 2li and 21. When theblank is set up to form carton 11, panels 20 and 21 assume verticalpositions with respect to back panel 13. Connected by foldline 22 to theopposite side of panel 20 is a front panelV 23. Panel 23 is likewiseprovided with an enlarged central opening 24 which is similar inconfiguration to |opening 14 formed in back panel 13. Connected byfoldline 25 to a perimetrical segment of open-ing 24 is a second innerflap 26. The configuration of flap 26 closely resembles that of flap 16,so that when the blank 1 0 is fully set up, iiap 26 will overlie iiap 16and be adhesively affixed thereto. Thus, flaps 16 and 26 serve to retainthe portions of the b-ack and front panels circumjacent the centralopenings thereof in proper spaced relation with respect to one another.

Connected by foldline 27 to the opposite side of panel 21 is a bridgingpanel 28. The function of panel 28 will be discussed more fullyhereinafter. ,Connected to the lopposite side of panel 28 by foldline3l) is a third inner flap 31 which is adapted to interconnect othercorresponding perimetrical segments of openings 14 and 24, when theblank is set up to form carton 11. Foldline 30 is shorter than foldline27 and is approximately equal in length to perimetrical segment 14a ofopening 14.

Connected by foldline 32 to the outer edge of flap 31 is an anchoringiiap or panel 33. Flap 33 is adapted to be adhesively affixed to theunprinted surface of 'back panel `13 when the carton 11 is formed.Foldline 32 is disposed in coincident relation with respect toperimetrical segment 14a of opening 14. FIG. 3 shows the disposition ofthe third inner flap 31 to be perpendicular to back panel 13.

Foldably connected to opposite ends of third inner iiap 31 are fourthand fth inner flaps 34 and 35, respectively, Each flap 34 or 35 isprovided with foldable side and end tabs 34a and 34h, and 35a and 35b.As seen in FIG. 4, during setting up of the blank 10, fourth and fifthinner aps 34 and 35 .and their associated side and end tabs are foldedat right angles with respect to third inner flap 31, so that iiap 31 iscoincident to opening segment 14a, flap 34 is coincident to perimetricalsegment 14b of opening 14, and iiap 35 is coincident to perimetricalsegment 14e of opening 14. Tabs 34a-b and 35o-b, in turn, are folded atright angles to iiaps 34 and 35, respectively, see FIG. 4. The foldedflaps normally are disposed in frictional face-to-face relation withrespect to the unprinted or concealed surfaces of back and front panels13 and 23 and side panel 20, when the carton 11 is erected.

As seen in FIG. 1, side panels 20 and 21 are provided with end closureflaps 36 and 37, respectively. Flaps 36 and 37 are adapted to cooperatewith closure flaps 38 and 40 foldably connected to opposite ends offront or top panel 23. Flaps 3S and 49 are each provided with a tuckflap 38a and 40a which are adapted to be tucked between fiaps 34a and35a and the unprinted surface of back panel 13, when the blank is set upto form carton 11.

Carton 11 is of a structure suitable for hanging on a display rod. Tofacilitate the hanging thereof, back panel 13 is provided with tongueportion 13a having the upper section 13b thereof adapted to be foldedover so as to provide a two-ply thickness. Portion 13a and section 13bare provided with openings 13C which are in registration with oneanother when section 13b assumes its folded position. Section 13b may beretained in its folded position by either adhesively afixing section 13bto portion 13a or by having the distal edge of section 13b tucked behindtuck flap 38a of end closure fiap 38.

When the blank 10 is set up to form carton 11, openings '14 and 24 arein registered relation. It is in the open center part of the carton thatthe product to be packaged is disposed. The size and shape of openings14 and 24 and the size and shape of the inner flaps will depend upon theproduct to be packaged. If, for example, the product in question was apadlock, not shown, the hasp thereof might project into a suitable slot41, shown in dotted lines, provided in inner flap 34, see FIG. 1.Likewise a slot 42, shown in dotted lines, might be provided in innerflap which might frictionally accommodate the bottom portion of the lockhousing. On the other hand, if the product is Va bottle, not shown,which has a neck portion, then the slot 41 would be sized tofrictionally accommodate said neck portion. Slot 42 in a like mannerwould be sized to accommodate the base or bottom portion of the bottle.Because of the frictional engagement between the product and the innerflaps no additional securing means is required. However, if desired, thecenter portion of the carton may be overwrapped by a clear plastic filmor the product may be further retained in place by spotgluing.

FIG. 2 discloses a modified carton blank 43 which is similar in manyrespects to blank 10. Because of this fact and in order to simplifyunderstanding of the structure of blank 43, similar numbers, but in theone hundred series, will be utilized. Back panel 113 and front panel 123are similar in configuration to panels 13 and 23 of blank 10 except thatthe opening 114 is provided with two inner fiaps 116 and 119 foldablyconnected to opposite perimetrical segments of the opening. In additionthe hanger tongue portion 13a and section 13b has been eliminated inblank 43; however, the elimination thereof is optional.

It will be noted that the fourth and fifth inner flaps 134 and 13S,respectively, which are foldably connected to opposite ends of thirdinner flap 131, each have only one side fiap 1340 or 135:1 connectedthereto. In addition, anchoring flap 33 of blank 10 has been eliminatedin blank 43. The reason for flap 33 being eliminated is that inner flap119 disposed in opening 114 is adapted to be adhesively affixed to thirdinner flap 131 when blank 43 is set up to form carton 44, shown in FIG.7. By eliminating the various tabs, tongues, and flap aforenoted inblank 43, substantial savings in material may be effected when forming aplurality of blanks from a web of paperboard or the like.

In setting up blank 10', side panel 21 is folded to an upright positionwith respect to back panel 13. Bridging panel 2S -and inner fiap 31 arethen folded relative to panel 21 so as to assume respective horizontaland vertical positions, see FIG. 3. Anchoring flap 33 has adhesiveapplied to the back surface thereof. Whereupon the anchoring fiap 33being folded at a right angle to flap 31, the coated surface of flap 33will bond with the unprinted surface of back panel 13 betweenperimetrical segment 14a and foldline 18. It should be noted thatanchoring liap 33 is separated from side tabs 34a and 35a by slits orcuts. In securing anchoring flap 33 to the back panel 13,

it is important from an appearance standpoint that foldline 32 be madecoincident with perimetrical segment 14a.

With blank 43, in place of `adhesively securing an anchoring iiap to theback panel, inner iiap 119 is adhesively coated on one surface thereof,whereupon flap 131 is brought into adhesive engagement with the coatedsurface of folded ap 119.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fourth and fifth inner flaps 34 and 35 and theirrespective tabs 34a-b and 35u-b are folded relative to flap 31 so as toassume the positions shown. When disposed, as seen in FIG. 4, faps 34and 35 are aligned with perimetrical segments 14b and c, respectively,of opening 14.

Side panel 20 is then folded upright yand front panel 23 is folded at aright angle thereto so as to assume a superimposed position with respectto back panel 13. The portion 23a of the front panel overlies and isadhesively affixed to bridging panel 28, so that blank 10 assumes thecondition shown in FIG. 5. Prior to the blank assuming the condition ofFIG. 5, the product to be packaged may be located between the fourth andfifth inner flaps.

The closure flaps, as shown in FIG. 5 are then folded relative to oneanother to close the ends of the carton. Section 13b may then be foldedrelative to tongue portion 13a.

As aforenoted, carton 11 or 44 Vhas all the exposed surfaces thereofformed by the printed surface of the blank 10 or 43. Thus, it isnecessary that the blank have only one printed surface. Furthermore, thevarious panels, flaps, tabs, and portions cooperate with one another toform a very strong and sturdy carton, notwithstanding the caliper of thematerial used.

Various modifications besides those shown and discused may be made withregard to the shape and size of the various panels and the openings inthe front and back panels. Furthermore, if in certain instances,appearance in so far as exposure of the unprinted surface of the blankis not important, then fourth and fifth inner flaps 34 and 35 or 134 and135 and their associated tabs might be eliminated entirely.

While several embodiments of this invention have been described above,further modifications may be made thereto and it is contemplated,therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A blank of sheet material for use in forming a foldable carton havingfront and back panels provided with aligned enlarged openings, saidblank having a plurality of foldlines and slits cooperating with oneanother to form a back panel having an enlarged opening formed therein,at least one inner side ap, foldably connected to a peripheral segmentof said opening, outer side panels foldably connected to oppositeperipheral portions of said back panel, a front panel foldably connectedto a peripheral portion of one of said outer side,u panels opposite theperipheral portion to which said back panel is connected, said frontpanel being provided with an enlarged opening, a second inner side fiapfoldably connected to a peripheral segment of the front panel opening,said second inner side flap being adapted to be adhesively secured tosaid one inner side flap when said blank is set up to form said carton,a bridging panel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of the otherof said outer side panels opposite the peripheral portion to which saidback panel is connected, a third inner side flap foldably connected to aperipheral portion of said bridging panel opposite to that connected tosaid other outer side panel; said third inner side flap being adapted tospan the interval between the front and back panels and comprise aborder portion defining said central openings in said front and backpanels when said blank is set up to form said carton, the foldlineconnection between said bridging panel and said other outer side panelbeing of greater extent than the foldline connection between saidbridging panel and said third inner ap, and closure flaps foldablyconnected to opposite ends of said outer side panels and said frontpanel.

2. A folding carton comprising a front panel, a back panel disposed inspaced registered relationship with respect thereto, said front and backpanels each being provided with a large aligned opening, iirst outerside panels interconnecting corresponding peripheral portions of saidfront and back panels, a bridging panel foldably engaging an edgeportion of one of said first outer side panels, the later foldableengagement being disposed parallel to the edge portion of said one outerside panel in foldable engagement with said back panel, a third innerside flap foldably connected to an edge portion of said bridging panelin parallel relationship with the bridging panel foldable connectionwith said one outer side panel; said third side flap being foldablyconnected to fourth and fth side aps at opposed end limits alongfoldlines transversely disposed to the third inner side flap foldableconnection with said bridging panel; said, third, fourth and tifth sideaps spanning the interval between said front and back panels, andoppositely-disposed, adhesively-engaged flaps extending from peripheralportions of said aligned openings spanning the interval between saidfront and back panels and defining the periphery of said panel openingswith said third, fourth and fth side ilaps.

3. The folding carton of claim 2 in which said third, fourth and fifthside flaps have side tabs extending from peripheral portions of saidside aps deiining said panel openings and in engagement with peripheralportions of said front and back panels defining said aligned openlngs.

4. The carton recited in claim 2 including a hanger flap extendinglaterally outwardly from the periphery of said back panel.

5. A blank of sheet material foruse in forming a foldable carton havingfront and back panels provided with aligned enlarged openings, saidblank having a plurality of foldlines and slits cooperating with oneanother to form a back panel having an enlarged opening formed therein,a rst inner side ap foldably connected to a peripheral segment of saidopening, outer side panels foldably connected to opposite peripheralportions of said back panel, a front panel foldably connected to aperipheral portion of one of said outer side panels opposite theperipheral portion to which said back panel is connected, said frontpanel being provided with an enlarged opening which is adapted to assumea spaced registered relation with respect to said back panel openingwhen said blank is set up to form said carton, a second inner side flapfoldably connected to a peripheral segment of said front panel opening,said second inner side flap being adapted to be adhesively secured tosaid iirst inner side iiap when said blank is set up to form a carton, abridging panel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of said otherouter side panel opposite the peripheral portion to which said backpanel is connected, said bridging panel being adapted to be adhesivelyconnected to the concealed surface of said front panel when said blankis set up to form said carton, a third inner side Hap foldably connectedto the opposite side of said bridging panel, the foldline connectedbetween said bridging panel and said other outer side panel being ofgreater extent than the foldline connection between said bridging paneland said third inner ap, an anchoring tab foldably connected to theopposite side of said third inner side flap, said anchoring tab beingadapted to be adhesively aixed to the concealed surface of said backpanel when said blank is set up to form a carton, fourth inner side flapfoldably connected to one end of said third inner side flap, iifth innerside flap foldably connected to the opposite end of said third innerside flap, said side flaps cooperating with one another to delimit theregistered central openings and span the distance between said front andback panels when said blank is set up to form said carton, secondanchoring aps foldably connected to said fourth and fifth inner sideflaps, and closure flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of saidouter side panels and said front panel.

6. The blank recited in claim 5 including a hanger ap foldably connectedto one end of said back panel.

'7. A blank of sheet material for use in forming a foldable cartonhaving front and back panels provided with aligned enlarged openings,said blank having a plurality of foldlines and slits cooperating withone another to form a back panel having an enlarged opening formedtherein, first inner side flaps foldably connected to oppositeperipheral segments of said opening, outer side panels foldablyconnected to opposite peripheral portions of said back panel, a frontpanel foldably connected to a peripheral portion of one of said outerside panels opposite the peripheral portion to which said back panel isconnected, said front panel being provided with an enlarged opening, asecond inner side flap foldably connected to a peripheral segment ofsaid front panel opening, said second inner side flap being adapted tobe adhesively secured to one of said first inner side flaps when saidblank is set up to form said carton, a bridging panel foldably connectedto a peripheral portion of said other outer side panel opposite theperipheral portion to which said back panel is connected, said bridgingpanel being adapted to be adhesively connected to the concealed surfaceof said front panel when said blank is set up to form said carton, athird inner side ap foldably connected to the opposite side of saidbridging panel, said third inner side liap being adapted to beadhesively connected to the other of said iirst inner side flaps, whensaid blank is set up to form said carton the foldline connection betweensaid bridging panel and said other outer side panel being of greaterextent than the foldline connection between said bridging panel and saidthird inner flap, and closure flaps foldably connected to opposite endsof said outer side panels and said front panel.

8. The blank recited in claim 7 including a fourth inner side iiapfoldably connected to one end of said third inner side flap, a iifthinner side ap foldably connected to the opposite end of said third innerside flap, said side aps cooperating with one another to delimit thealigned openings and span the distance between said front and backpanels when said blank is set up to form said carton, and anchoringiiaps foldably connected to said fourth and iifth inner side flaps.

9. The blank recited in claim 7 including a hanger flap foldablyconnected to one end of said back panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,758 7/ 1954 Aquino 229-40 X2,850,160 9/1958 Siebbl et al. 206-45.3 X 2,921,674 1/ 1960 Ryder 206-522,955,738 10/ 1960 :Bacchus et a1 229-87 X 3,000,494 9/ 1961 Monroe206-52 3,018,883 1/ 1962 Wohlforth 229-87 X 3,159,274 12/1964 Burt229-40 X 3,253,703 5/ 1966 Ettin 229-40 X JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, PrimaryExaminer.

D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner.

1. A BLANK OF SHEET MATERIAL FOR USE IN FORMING A FOLDABLE CARTON HAVINGFRONT AND BACK PANELS PROVIDED WITH ALIGNED ENLARGED OPENINGS, SAIDBLANK HAVING A PLURALITY OF FOLDLINES AND SLITS COOPERATING WITH ONEANOTHER TO FORM A BACK PANEL HAVING AN ENLARGED OPENING FORMED THEREIN,AT LEAST ONE INNER SIDE FLAP, FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO A PERIPHERAL SEGMENTOF SAID OPENING, OUTER SIDE PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITEPERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID BACK PANEL, A FRONT PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTEDTO A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF ONE OF SAID OUTER SIDE PANELS OPPOSITE THEPERIPHERAL PORTION TO WHICH SAID BACK PANEL IS CONNECTED, SAID FRONTPANEL BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ENLARGED OPENING, A SECOND INNER SIDE FLAPFOLDABLY CONNECTED TO A PERIPHERAL SEGMENT OF THE FRONT PANEL OPENING,SAID SECOND INNER SIDE FLAP BEING ADAPTED TO BE ADHESIVELY SECURED TOSAID ONE INNER SIDE FLAP WHEN SAID BLANK IS SET UP TO FORM SAID CARTON,A BRIDGING PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE OTHEROF SAID OUTER SIDE PANELS OPPOSITE THE PERIPHERAL PORTION TO WHICH SAIDBACK PANEL IS CONNECTED, A THIRD INNER SIDE FLAP FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO APERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID BRIDGING PANEL OPPOSITE TO THAT CONNECTED TOSAID OTHER OUTER SIDE PANEL; SAID THIRD INNER SIDE FLAP BEING ADAPTED TOSPAN THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK PANELS AND COMPRISE ABORDER PORTION DEFINING SAID CENTRAL OPENINGS IN SAID FRONT AND BACKPANELS WHEN SAID BLANK IS SET UP TO FORM SAID CARTON, THE FOLDLINECONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BRIDGING PANEL AND SAID OTHER OUTER SIDE PANELBEING OF GREATER EXTENT THAN THE FOLDLINE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAIDBRIDGING PANEL AND SAID THIRD INNER FLAP, AND CLOSURE FLAPS FOLDABLYCONNECTED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID OUTER SIDE PANELS AND SAID FRONTPANEL.